Detention screen locking means



March 27, 1956 Filed Aug. 7. 1952 J. T. COOK ETAL 2,739,471

DETENTION SCREEN LOCKING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig 2 INVENTORS lo/m 7: (00K By [20/1 5 W/l/eit March 27, 1956 2,739,471

J. T. COOK ET AL DETENTION SCREEN LOCKING MEANS Filed Aug. 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS John 7? (00K y [eon 5 I V/V/Qff United States Patent DETENTION SCREEN LOCKING MEANS John T. Cook, Farmington, and LeonE. Willett, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Chamberiin Company of America, Detroit, Miciu, a corporation of Michigan Application August 7, 1952, Serial No. 3(t3,056

8 Claims. (Cl. 7tl--12ti) This invention relates to improvements in locking means and more particularly to detention screen locking means.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a lock with a bolt actuating member and movementretarding means for impeding the free movement of the bolt actuating member during locking and unlocking so that unauthorized attempts to move the lock bolt are hampered.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a detention screen locking means having structural "simplicity, being inexpensive to manufacture, and having ease of operation and assembly of its parts.

Other features of this invention reside in the arrangement and design of the parts for carrying out their appropriate functions.

' .Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and description and the essential features will be set forth in the appended claims.

Inthe drawings,

Fig. 1 is an inside elevational view of a detention screen embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lower right hand corner and middle right hand side of the detention screen in Fig. 1 looking from the back toward the front thereof or along line 22 of Fig. 3 and with the key removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the lock bolt extended in the locking position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 through the lock structure with the key in an intermediate position halfway between locked and unlocked positions;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5 -5 of Fig. 4 with the bolt actuating member shown in a solid line and a dot-dash line position in locked and unlocked positions to indicate the extreme range of movement;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the annular friction spring, shown in Fig. 5, for retarding free movement of the bolt actuating member;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the friction spring shown in Fig. 6; while Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8'-8 of Fig. 5.

While the present lock invention might be adapted to various types of structures, it has been chosen to show the same as a detention screen locking means in the detention screen shown in the copending U. S. patent application Ser. No. 186,226, entitled Emergency Releasable Locking Mechanism for Detention Screens, filed on September 22, 1950, by Leon E. Willett and Frank R. E. Smith, and now issued on March 31, 1953, as Patent No. 2,633,192. Detention screens are used in hospitals, psychiatric institutions, and other places to restrain patients from escape, and occasionally in homes, apartment houses and elsewhere to prevent injury either to the person or the screen. The problem has been to secure the extends to the upper lock bolt.

2,739,47i Patented Mar. 27, 1956 lock for said screen in this application very closely resemblesthat disclosed in the aforementioned copending U. S. patent application to which reference may be had for further disclosure, if desired.

T hedetention screen disclosed herein has a metal frame consisting of an inner frame member 20 and an outer frame member 21 in Fig. 1 extending around the four sides of a Wall opening to frame said opening. The inner frame member 20 carries the screening stretched between its "four sides and is hinged along its vertical left edge in Figpl' to the outer frame member 21 so that when the detention screen is unlocked, the right end of the inner frame member '20 in Fig. 1 may be swung upwardly out of the plane of the drawings (inwardly into the room) around the axis of the hinges.

The inner frame member 23 is locked in its closed position in outer frame member 21 when spaced lock bolts in the upper and lower portion of the right hand side of frame member 2a in Fig. 1 are initheir advanced or locking position. Only one lock bolt-23 is shown in Fig. 3 and only one will be described because all lock bolts are structurally similar. This lock bolt 23 engages behind a flange bordering the channel of outer frame 21 to hold the frame members 20 and 21 together with the open side of their channels facing each other, as shown in Fig. 3.

The lock for the detention screen includes not only the lock bolt 23 but the mechanism for moving this lock bolt between locking and unlocking position. Key operated lock bolt actuating members or arms 24 (one behind the other in Fig. 2) extend out of the key receiving housing 22 pivotally connected to a connecting link 25 having its lower end connected to a cam plate 26 slidably mounted in the inner channel of inner frame member 20 for vertical reciprocation. A pin 27 on the lock bolt 23 slides in an inclined slot 28 in the cam plate 26 so that upward movement of the cam plate 26 by the link 25 will retract the lock bolt 23 to the unlocking position while lowering the cam plate 26 will advance lock bolt 23 toward the left in Figs. 2 and 3 to its locking position. A similar connecting link 25a is pivotally connected to arms 24 and One connecting link could extend the full length of the frame to operate all bolts, but for convenience in assembly and to provide for a slight cocking action in the linkage, two rods are used with one above the housing 22 and one below it.

The key receiving housing 22 includes a 'back plate 30 having diverging arms 30a formed integrally therewith and secured along with the opposite end of housing 22 to the inner frame member 20 so that the key receiving housing 22 the lock bolt 23, and the actuating mechanism therebetwe'en are all carried by the inner frame member 20' to swing therewith. This structure is shown in more detail in U. S. Patent No. 2,537,109, entitled Metal Screen Frame, granted January 9, -1, to Leon E. Wille'tt. The back plate 30 has integrally formed therewith at its upper and lower edges spaced, outwardly extending mounting lugs 30b, 30b, in Fig. 4 for mounting and locating a removable key-receiving unit and a spacer plate 31; each of which are described in more detail hereinafter.

The removable key-receiving unit has two spaced side a zssnvi retainer plates 33, 33, each of which forms a vertically extending side wall with an integrally formed, horizontally extending attaching lug 330. A central wall 35 is disposed between the side walls 33]), 3312 with each of said walls being spaced apart and held in parallel relationship by a plurality of post-like members. Each post-like member being similar to the one shown in Fig. 8

includes a rivet 36 extending through aligned holes in the 31a and 35a adapted to coact with the mounting lug 30b,

30b for properly locating the removable key-receiving unit on the back'plate. Also, the locating recesses 35a on the center wall 35 coact with the side retainer plate lugs 33a, 33a for aiding in the location of the elements in the removable unit assembly. The spacer plate 31 is provided with a plurality of holes 31a for fitting over the projecting rivet heads so that the key-receiving housing is a rigid unit without requiring counterboring in back plate 30 to accommodate the rivet heads. Also, the spacer plate 31 prevents possible wobble of the removable key-receiving unit about the axis defined by screws 38, 38.

It should be noted that center wall 35 and spacer plate 31 can have substantially the same shape and size holes so that the plates can be interchangeable for economy in manufacture. The pilot diameter 37a of the spacer 37 is approximately the same diameter as the rivet heads.

Although two bolt actuating members 24 are shown, one may be satisfactory. However, as will be brought out in further detail hereinafter when two bolt actuating members 24 are used, greater resistance to movement will be obtained with a smaller friction washer. Also, a larger surface engagement with the operating key will exist so that there will be less likelihood of damage when the frictionally retarded lock bolt actuating members 24 are moved. Since both members 24 are identical, only one will be generally described. The bolt actuating member 24 has, in addition to the protruding arm at the left in Fig. 5, an annular or ring shape portion 24a located between center wall 35 and wall 33b. Also, each member 24 has a hexagonal central key-receiving hole 24b in its annular portion 24a. The annular portion 24a of each bolt actuating member 24 is rotatably mounted between the spacers 37 so that the key-receiving hole 24b is in operative registration with aligned hexagonal holes 33b, 33b in the spaced apart walls 33b, 33b. In the drawings, these hexagonal key-receiving holes 33b are shown as being coaxially aligned along with the hexagonal key-receiving hole 35' in the center wall 35 with all of the hexagons correspondingly oriented.

Figure 4 discloses a removable key 40 inserted when members 24 are in the solid or dot-dash line positions of Fig. 5 by an attendant in the interior of the room through suitable key holes in the back plate and the spacer plate 31 into the other key-receiving holes 24b, 33b, "v and 33b aligned therewith in operative registration and the key turned 30. Portions of the key are hexagonal in shape, as shown at ltla, and other portions are cylindrical in shape, as shown at b, so that when the key 4 is properly inserted to the depth shown in Fig. 4, turning of the key will cause the hexagonal portion 40a to engage in the holes 24!) in the bolt actuating members 24 to rotate said members 24-, 24 in either one direction or the other for locking or unlocking the detention screen by rotating hexagonal hole 24b in Fig. 5 from the solid line position, through the Fig. 4 position, to the solid line position with the bolt actuating arm being moved (the space between the solid and dot-dash line (3. positions thereof in Fig. 5). It should be noted that these spacers 37, 37 on each rivet on the left in Fig. 5 cooperate with the crank arm of each bolt actuating member 24 to limit its range of travel to approximately 60 of movement. When the crank arm is in its lower solid line position, in Fig. 5, the lock bolt 23 is extended in its locking position while when the crank arm 24 is in its raised dotdash position in Fig. 5, lock bolt 23 is retracted to its unlocking position. Since the angular rotative movement of the bolt actuating member 2 3 is 60 and the central key-receiving hole 24b is hexagonal or six-sided, the removable key 4-43 can be inserted into or removed from the lock in the position shown in Fig. 5 when the lock bolt is either in advanced locking position, shown in solid lines in Figs. 2 and 5, or in its retracted or unlocking position in the dot-dash line position of Fig. 5.

In prior lock structures, some astute or cunning individuals have, by inserting an object through the key hole from the interior of the room and then engaging one of the sides of the hexagonal key-receiving hole 24b, rotated the bolt actuating member 24 to retract the lock bolt. A movement retarding means has been added to the lock structure for impeding the free movement of the bolt actuating member or members 24 by the removable key 40. This movement retarding means hampers unauthorized attempts to move the lock bolt without the proper key.

In the present disclosure, this movement retarding means takes the form of two friction washers 41, 41 between the spaced walls 33b, 33b and the annular portions 24a, 24a of the bolt actuating members 24, 24 and between the spacers 37 of the post-like wall connecting members. Since both washers 41 are exactly the same, only one will be described. Washer 41 made from resilient material preferably spring steel has a central circular hole 410 of larger diameter than the distance across the corners of the hexagonal hole 24b. The washer, surrounds the mouth of hexagonal hole 24]), as shown in Fig. 5, and the central hole 41a and the periphery of the annular Wall of the washer 41 are so proportioned that even though the washer may move back and forth between the spacers 37, it cannot be removed from between any two posts and its annular wall will never block the passage of the key 40 through the coaxially aligned hexagonal key-receiving holes. Hence, the washer hole 41a is in operative registration with the other hexagonal holes for receiving the key 40 therethrough even though it may not be coaxially aligned with the other holes. The annular wall of the friction washer 41 has a plurality of radial crimps 41b, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, with the crimps forming undulations or waves extending in the axial and circumferential direction with the crests of the waves re-occurring at intervals when three waves are in the friction washer. However, it should be apparent that any number of waves could be used.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the parts in their assembled position. One side of the annular portion 24a of the lock bolt actuating member engages a central wall 35 while the washer 41, in compressed or stressed condition, resiliently and frictionally engages the opposite side of the lock bolt actuating member annular portion 24 and also engages wall 33b. It is apparent that as the key 40 is rotated and in turn rotates the bolt actuating members 24, 24, the resilient washers 41, 41 in Fig. 4 will frictionally retard the free movement of the bolt actuating members 24, 24. If the proper key is not used, they will hamper unauthorized attempts to move the lock bolt 23 out of its locking position. It should be noted that each friction washer 45. is free either to move with its associated bolt actuating member 24 and relative to its associated wall 33b or to remain stationary with its wall 33b while its associated bolt actuating member 2- 5 rotates relative thereto. In either case or in any combination of these movements, the desired frictional drag will be obtained.

It should be apparent that the spacing of the walls 33b,

33b and 35 is critical. Any two adjacent walls .must be spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness between the opposite sides of the bolt actuating member 24 that they surround but 'less than the total thickness between the opposite sides of said bolt actuating member 24 and the thickness of its associated resilient washer 41 in its unstressed condition.

The post-like members, comprising rivets 36 and spacers 37, perform several functions. First, they connect the walls 33b, 33b and 35 and keep themproperl-y spaced and parallel with respect to each other. Second, they urge each frictional washer 41 and its associated bolt actuating member 24 into side-to-side frictional engagement. Third, they are located closely adjacent and are engageable with the periphery of the annular ring-shaped portion 24a of the bolt actuating member 24 and with the periphery of the annular wall of the resilient friction washer 41. This structure relationship keeps the key-receiving holes 24b, 33b, 35' and 41a in operative registration for the reception of the key 40. It prevents removal of either the annular portion 24a or the washer 41 from between the post-like members. Fourth, the post-like members rotatably mount the annular portion 24a of each bolt-actuating member 24 so that turning of key 40 will move the lock bolt 23 between locking and unlocking position. Fifth, the two post-like members at the left in Fig. 5 limit the angular swing of the crank arm of bolt actuating member 24 to 60, between'locking and unlocking positions, as mentioned heretofore.

Although four post-like members are shown in the drawings in the present disclosure, it should be readily apparent that a fewer or greater number could readily be used. The fewest number to perform all of the desired functions would be three in number if the post-like members were each cylindrical in structure as disclosed in the drawings. Then, the distance between any two post-like members would have to be less than the diameter of the circular periphery on either the annular portion 24a or on the resilient washer 41. Of course, if other shaped posts, instead of cylindrical posts were used, even two posts might be satisfactory if they encompass enough of the peripheries.

The operation should now be apparent. After the removable key 40 is inserted into the hexagonal, aligned keyreceiving holes, it is turned in one direction to rotate the crank arm of the bolt actuating member 24 to move the lock bolt 23 from the locking to the unlocking position (from the solid to the dash-dot line position in Fig. 5) while the key 49 can be rotated in the other direction to advance the lock bolt again to the locking position, if

desired. The resilient friction washers 41 retard and impede the free movement of the bolt actuating members 24 for hampering unauthorized attempts to move lock bolt 23 without the proper key.

Various changes in details and arrangement of parts can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a detention screen having a rectractable lock bolt movable between unlocking and locking positions by a removable key, a lock for said detention screen including a housing having spaced apart parallel walls with aligned key-receiving holes therethrough, a bolt actuating member having a ring shaped portion with a key receiving central hole in operative registration with the aligned holes in said spaced walls, said ring shaped portion being located between and rotatable between said spaced walls with one side slidably engaging one of said Walls, and a resilient annular friction washer having an annular wall surrounding a key receiving central hole in operative registration with the aforementioned holes, said key being insertable through the central hole of said Washer and then into said key-receiving hole of said bolt actuating member when inserted into said lock for actuation thereof, the annular wall of said friction washer having continuous radial crimps forming uniform and smooth undulations in the axial and circumferential directions and having a smooth circular periphery, said resilient washer being in a compressed stressed condition between the opposite side of said ring shaped portion of said bolt actuating member and the other of said walls for retarding the free movement of said bolt actuating member by smooth contacttherebetween, said walls being spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness between said sides of said bolt actuating member but less than the total thickness between said sides of said bolt actuating member and thickness of said resilient friction means in unstressed condition, at least three spaced cylindrical post-like members connecting said walls to maintain said spacing therebetween, each of said walls being substantially flat over an area extending outwardly to at least beyond said peripheries and said post-like members, said post-like members being closely adjacent and engageable with the circular periphery of said ring shaped portion and said annular friction washer with the distance between any two posts being less than the diameter of said circular peripheries for preventing removal ofsaid ring shaped portion and washer from between said posts, for mounting said ring shaped portion for rotation and for keeping said key receiving holes in operative registration.

2. In a detention screen having a retractable lock bolt movable between unlocking and locking positions by a removable key, a lock for said detention screen including a housing having spaced apart parallel flat walls with an aligned key-receiving hole through at least one of said Walls, a bolt actuating member having a ring shaped portion with a key receiving central hole in operative registration with the aligned hole in said one wall, said ring shaped portion being located between and rotatable between said spaced walls with one side slidably engaging said one wall, a resilient friction washer having a circular periphery, said resilient Washer being in axially compressed stressed condition between the opposite side of said ring shaped portion of said bolt actuating member and the other of said walls for retarding the free movement of said bolt actuating member, and at least three spaced cylindrical post-like members connecting said walls, said post-like members being closely adjacent and engageable with the circular periphery of said ring shaped portion and said friction washer with the distance between any two posts being less than the diameter of said circular peripheries for preventing removal of said ring shaped portion and washer from between said posts, for mounting said ring shaped portion for rotation and for keeping said key receiving holes in operative registration.

In a detention screen lock, as set forth in claim 2, wherein each post-like member includes a fastening element for pulling said walls toward each other and a sleeve type spacer telescoped over said fastening element and abutting against the facing surfaces of said Walls for maintaining the proper spacing therebetween to keep said washer in axially stressed condition but to permit movement by the key of said bolt actuating member.

4-. In a dentention screen, as set forth in claim 2, a screen frame member having a flat surface on its inner side for locating said lock and a key-receiving hole therethrough, axially aligned pin type fastening elements for mounting said lock on said frame member with said alignment extending generally parallel to said surface, and a spacer plate located between said lock and surface to prevent rotation about said axis.

5. In a detention screen, as set forth in claim 4, each of said post-like members including a rivet extending through said walls and having a peened over head outside said walls, said spacer plate having holes aligned with said heads so that said heads will not touch said surface.

6. In a detention screenhaving a retractable lock bolt movable between unlocking and locking positions by a removable key, a lock for said detention screen including a housing having three spaced apart aligned parallel walls with an aligned key-receiving hole through at least two adjacent walls, two bolt actuating members with one located between each pair of adjacent walls, each bolt actuating member having a ring shaped portion with a My receiving central hole in operative registration with the aligned holes in said two adjacent walls, said ring shaped portions being rotatably located between said Walls with each having one side slidably engaging one of said walls, two resilient friction washers with each having a circular periphery, each resilient washer being in axially compressed stressed condition between the opposite side of its ring shaped portion and the other of its pair of walls for retarding the free movement of said bolt actuating members, at least three spaced cylindrical postlilte iii-embers contracting said walls, said post-like members being closely adjacent and eugageable with the circular peripheries of said ring shaped portions and said friction washers with the distance between any two posts being less than the diameter of said circular peripheries for preventing removal of said ring shaped portions and washers from between said posts, for mounting said ring shaped portions for rotation and for keeping said key receiving holes in operative registration.

7. In a detention screen lock, as set forth in claim 6, wherein each post-like member includes a fastening element for pulling said walls toward each other and sleeve type spacers telescoped over said fastening element and abutting against the facing surfaces of said walls for maintaining the proper spacing therebetween to keep said washers in axially stressed condition but to permit movement by the key of said bolt actuating members, said snaccrs snugly receiving said fastening element and having reduced diameters snugly telescoping from opposite directions into holes in said central wall to not more than half the thickness of said wall to prevent lateral shifting of said post-like members.

8. In a detention screen, as set forth in claim 7, a screen frame member having a fiat surface on its inner side for locating said lock and a key-receiving hole therethrough, axially aligned pin type fastening elements for mounting said lock on said frame member with said alignment extending generally parallel to said surface, and a spacer plate located between said lock and surface to prevent rotation about said axis, each of said post-like members including a rivet extending through said walls and having a peened over head outside said walls, said spacer plate having holes aligned with said heads so that said heads will not touch said surface, said spacer plate and middle wall of said lock being interchangeable in the construction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,585,717 Hummert May 25, 1926 1,973,251 Hayden Sept. 11, 1934 2,591,111 Willett Apr. 1, 1952 

